(Also see: Controlling your thoughts)
Click here for copy of lesson from Manual
 

GAMES:

I am doing a game that I have called "What do you Monopolize your mind with?"  It looks like a monopoly board but the stops are like: Music Hall-good music nourishes the soul. Bookstore- Read good books- Theatre- if it's not meant to be seen, don't watch it on the screen- the public utilities has a faucet that says- wash away all unclean thoughts. I have enlarged it and laminated it. I have not worked out how to play the game but I think I will make up cards that they draw when they land on a stop that they have to answer a question about how to handle a situation, or will read some quotes from the lesson and explain what it means. I have the mormon-opoly game so that may help too. Still in the planning stages. (Idea by Myrna)
Young Womenopoly Game

HANDOUTS:

Best thoughts box
Candy Watches
Handout from Christy's Clipart
Rubber band (large enough to fit on wrist):  When bad thoughts enter your mind, all you have to do is flick the rubber band.  That little sting can be an instant reminder.
You could read the story of "The Little Engine that Could" and do a hand out with a train on it or make train engines out of lifesaver rolls. Objective is to show that thoughts are important to our character.

LESSON HELPS:

I taught this lesson this Sunday and I also used the Worthy Thoughts class work sheet. I promised them a special something if they listened as the other young women read Elder packer's conference talk and answered the questions. When the class was over those ( all ) that answered the work sheet got a candy watch w/ the poem attached. I used a bunch of Mormon Ads around the room, the girls liked them and then played "Can you image?"  It turned out well. (Credit Unknown)
Lesson Helps from Debanae
Lesson Helps from Jenny Smith
Lesson Helps from Young Women Connection
Our Laurels leader brought a jar with plain water and put drops of food coloring in it to demonstrate our minds. The water being our minds and the food coloring being bad thoughts that we may receive. Having the girls notice that each time you drop one bad thought in (food coloring) that our minds get polluted and it doesn't clear up. She then brought different cleaning supplies and taped thoughts and experiences on them for a yw to read to the group. Then girls would share experiences they or others they knew had that had to do with the ones read. At the end of the discussion the leader put bleach into the glass signifying the mind cleaner. When we keep our minds clean and pure they will be able to fight off the bad things they encounter. Every time you let one drop of bad in the others follow quite easily. She used the talk quotes also and just had the girls read them throughout the lesson. Hope this helps- The girls enjoyed the lesson quite well. The bleach was the best part of course. I would try the bleach at home first--think she used 1part water to 1 part beach with 2 drops of food coloring. (Amy in Washington)
When I gave this lesson, I filled a clear glass jar 2/3 full with water. I taped "The Right Way" (It was a sign) to the back of the outside of the jar so you could see through the water and read it. I explained that when our minds are full of pure thoughts we can see the "right way" easily. If we fill our minds with wrong thoughts, the "right way" is harder to see. I asked them what kind of wrong thoughts we could have, and every time they told me one I added a couple of drops of food coloring to the jar full of water. Pretty soon we couldn't see the "right way" anymore. We spent some time talking about why the wrong thoughts make it harder to do what Heavenly Father wants us to do. Then I explained that we can counteract bad thoughts by replacing them with good thoughts. I poured some bleach in the glass jar and stirred. Eventually the water became clear again. When the water turns clear, it makes the "right way" easier to see. I explained that we need to be careful what kind of thoughts we put into our minds. Just like the food coloring in the water, we might be able to counteract bad thoughts with good thoughts, but it takes a great deal of effort to push them out of our minds. Hope this helps, the girls really enjoyed it. I got the idea from a FHE lesson. (Natalie in Canada)

NEW ERA POSTERS:

Lift your thoughts

OBJECT LESSONS:

Need: two balloons, one helium filled and the other air. Be sure to have your balloons as mush alike as possible. Hold one balloon in each hand. Discuss how the balloons are alike ( size, color, shape, design,) tell the class that although they seem a like they are different in one important way - one filled with helium. Ask filling one with helium will make a difference. Explain that we are like the balloons because what we fill ourselves with will determine whether we sink (drop the air-filled balloon) or soar (release the helium balloon). Discuss what thoughts can help us rise.
What's on your mind? 
 

STORIES:
 

The Banana and Monkey Story by President Kimball (can be related to controlling your thoughts)

Try something different by Price Pritchett

TALKS:
 

Boyd K. Packer, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 26; Ensign, Nov. 1999, 23. Use this article to supplement President Packer’s talk in the manual.

L. Tom Perry, “Discipleship,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 72; Ensign, Nov. 2000, 60. Substitute some of President Packer’s talk in the manual with Elder Perry’s story on cleaning corners.

VIDEOS:

Controlling your thoughts by Boyd K. Packer